I have an older Kitchen Aid electric dryer, model KEYE670BWH2, with a problem I have never heard of. I have noticed 2 symptoms, and I assume they are related.

1) We always use the dryer on low temp, but recently noticed the clothes coming out of the dryer are quite hot, as hot as if set to high.

2) While investigating symptom 1, I noticed the element was glowing red while the dryer was stopped and the door was open. Using a current meter, I can tell the element is drawing power even when the drum is not turning. Looking inside the open door I can see the element glowing red hot. Clearly this seems dangerous.

If the timer is in the OFF position of any cycle, or anywhere in the air dry cycle, the element is not on, so I assume the timer is working correctly. Any other cycle setting, the heating element comes on immediately, before pushing the Start button, with the door open or closed.

I don't know how long this has been happening. I noticed last night when I went to do yearly lint cleaning. I noticed the vent pipe was crushed and plugged, so I replaced the vent, removed the back and vacuumed as much lint as I could. I did not open or remove or disconnect anything other than the back cover.

I have no idea what could cause this or what to begin testing, and appreciate any ideas

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